Snowplow



L. P. MARX SNOWPLOW Filed April 16, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l ai@ @W Feb. 9 1926.

L. P. MARX SOWPLOW Filed April 16, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheen'l 2 feb. 9 1926.

L. P. MARX SNOWPLOW Filed April 16, 1925 3 Sheetsl-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 9, 1926.-

UNITED STATES LEO P. MARX, 0F LE ILES, IOWA.

SNOWPLOW.

Application mea April 1s, 192s. seran n. 13,403.

To all 'whoml it may concern.'

Be it known that I, Lno P. MARX, a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of Le Mars, in the county of Plymouth and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Snowplows, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a snow plow of the type employing an angularly-disposed blade adapted to scrape or roll the snow aside from the path traveled by the blade.

An object of my invention is to provide such a snow plow with an elevator-situated at the discharge end of the plow blade so as to receive the snow pushed aside from the blade, and aligned with the normal direction `of travel of the plow, so that the forward motion of the plow will tend to assist the elevator in picking up the snow delivered from the plow blade.

A further object is to provide, in connection with the elevator, a delivery chute adapted to discharge the snow from the elevator at a point somewhat removed from the path of travel of the plow. t

A further object 1s to provide a novel frame construction wherein the plow is mounted for angular adjustment in a horizontal pla-ne, the frame being designed to receive a. tractor or truck as motive )ower and being provided with novel means or quickly hitching and unhitching the tractor or truck to the plow frame.`

Another object is to provide a plow construction, the forward end of which is supported by caster wheels which may be q uickly attached to or detached from an independent steering mechanism carried by the plow frame, the frame being adapted to support the front end of those types of tractors from which the front axle construction may be readily removed, whereby the steering of the plow may be accomplished through the medium of the caster wheels; the tractor wheels on the other hand being adapted, when disconnected from the steering mechanism to follow freely the course of the plow and allow steering of the plow by means of the ordinary steering mechanism of a tractor or truck when that type is used from which it is not desirable to remove the front wheels.

A further object is to provide an elevator,

which is pivoted at its forward end in the plow frame to allow raising and lowering of the rear end thereof, together with means for raising and lowering the rear end and bracing position.

Another object is to provide a plow in which the elevator is driven from au independent source of power,- whereby the power supplied to the elevator will be constant irrespective of the amount of power used in pushing the plow. Vith these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the plow, a common type of tractor shown in broken lines hitched thereto.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation yof the plow, a common type of tractor shown in broken lines hitched thereto.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the plow, a common type of tractor being shown in broken lines hitched thereto.

Fig. 4 is a. vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 4.--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the elevator, the means therefor and a portion of the arch of the forward frame.Y

Fig. 6. is a detail sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a .detail sectional view taken on the line 7 7 of F 4.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view through 011e of the caster wheels and the adjacent frame upon which it is mounted, illustrating the vertical adjusting means for the caster wheel.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view means for the elevator in the other caster wheel, taken on the line Fig. 10 is a detail sectionalview illustrating a portion of the elevator mechanislm, taken on the line 10-10 of Flg. 2.

ig. 11 is a. perspective view illustratmg` a portion of the tractor hitch.

Frame.

Referring now to 3, the frame of the plow in plan is shaped somewhat like a U, having the arms, 10 and 11, the forwarding connecting beam, 12. The beam, 12, is an inverted channel secured to the arm,

10, by means of angle brackets, 13, and to the arm, 11, by means of an angle bracket, 14, illustrated in Fig. 7.

An auxiliary elevator supporting frame is formed by an extension, 15, ot' the beam, 12, projecting beyond the arm, 1 1, and a bar, 16, secured at 17 to the end of the extension, 15, extending thence rearwardly for a distance parallel to the arm, 11, as at 18, and extending thence diagonally rearwardly to the arm, 11. to which it is secured as at 19. (See Fig. 3.)

A portion of the extension, 15, is lowered as at 2O in Fig. 4, in order that the elevator may receive the snow at a point as near the ground'as possible. This will be more fully described hereinafter.

Secured to the extension, 15, by means of angle brackets, 21, and straddling the lowered portion, 20, is an arch, 22, made of a length of channel iron, as shown.

For convenience in reference the outer arm of the arch will be referred to by the numeral 23, and the inner arm by the numeral, 24.

Baale construction..

The plow blade, 25, has ,y the ordinary curve, asshown in Fig. 1, and is hinged for movement about a vertical axis near the arm, 24. A hinge bracket, 26, is riveted to the arm, 24, as shown in Fig. 4, and a coacting bracket, 27, is fixed to the blade, 25. The brackets, 26 and 27, are pivotally connected by a bolt, 28.

The blade, 25. is reinforced and supported by an angle bar or rib, 29, secured to its rear surface and extending longitudinally thereof. The inner end of the rib, 29, rests upon the beam, 12, as shown in Fig. "I, and is pivoted as at 30 thereto at a point dis posed vertically beneath the bolt, 23. ln order to support the outer end of the blade the angle bar, 31, is secured to the upper face of the arm, 10, and extends forwardly therefrom and under the rib, 29.

The rib, 29, is pivotally secured upon the bar, 31, by means of a bolt, 32, shown in Fig. 1, where a portion of the angle bar, 31, is broken away to disclose the same.

Rigidly fastened to the bar, 31, is a brace, 33, which extends upwardly and forwardly and is hingedly linked at 34 to a bracket, 35, secured to the blade, 25. The hinge pivot, 34, is positioned vertically above the hinge bolt, 32.

The bar, 31, may be adjusted longitudinally of the arm, 10, by insertingr the securing bolts, 36, selectively in any of the openings, 37, provided in the arm, 10. It will now be seen that by sliding the bar, 31, forwardly the angular position of the blade, 25 may be shifted, the blade hinging about the pivots, 28 and 30, and the bar, 31, and brace, 33, maintaining constant relation to each other.

Lavaca@ In order to further brace the blade in any of its adjusted positions a brace, 38, is provided which may be secured between any ot the openings, 37, and any of a series of openings, 39, in the end of the rib, 29.

Steering mechanism.

The forward end of the traine is supported by a pair of caster wheels, 40 and 41, each of which involves a construction similar to that shown in Fig. S. A bracket, 42. is fixed to the beam, 12, near thc outer end thereof and has a vertically disposed internally screw threaded sleeve, 43, into which is threaded a bushing, 44. having its upper end squared as at 45. (See Fig. 1.)

The caster wheel spindle, 46, is rotatably mounted within the bushing, 44, and provided at its lower end with a shouldered fork, 47, which bears against the lower edge of the sleeve 44. By rotating the sleeve, 44. through the medium ot' a wrench the height of the caster wheel may be adjusted.

Between the beam, 12, and arm, 11, is a diagonally disposed supporting plate48, (see Figs. 3 and 9) to which is secured a bracket, 49, having a sleeve, 43, similar to the sleeve, 43. In the slee-ve, 43a, is threaded a bushing, 44, having the squared end, 45, and receiving the caster wheel spindle, 46. The caster wheel spindle, 4G, fork, 47 and bushing, 44*l are identical with the construction shown in Fig. S.

have used the reference character 5() to indicate generally a tractor of a. well known type, which has the front axle devis, 5l, and draw bar, 52. rl`he l'ront axle construction may be removed from the clcvis, 5l, and the Clovis, 5l, inserted over a bar, 53, extending from the arm. 10, to the arm, 1l, and suitably positioned as determined by experiment.

Tc the draw bar, 52, is secured a. bitching bracket, 54. supporting at its rear end the bitching bar, 55.

The ends of the arms, ll and 10, are cnt away at. 5V (see Fig. 11) to receive the ends of the bitching bar, 55, and are apertured to receive a pin, 57, which is extended through the arms, 10 and 11, respectively', and through openings, 58, provided in the ends of the bitching bar, 55.

The forward pull of the tractor is transmitted to the arms, l0 and 1l, by pressure directly against the ends thereof, and the bolts, 5T, serve only to prevent displace.- lnent of the bar, 55, laterally or i'e:u".\'ardl An ordinary auto truck or caterpillar maj.' be used, instead ot a. tractor. 50. provided with a similar bitching bar, 55, the bar. 53. being dispensed with where such a truck is used. It may be seen that the truck may simply be driven between the arms. l() and 11. and the pins. 57, dropped into place.

Where a caterpillar is so used the traine 4 may bel provided with brackets against which the sides of the caterpillar may be broughtto bear in `order to turn the frame.

That is, the guiding may be accomplished by driving t-he caterplllar laterally against the frame and thus transmitting lateral pressure thereto.

The saine may be done in the case of a tractor, although the plow may be .easily controlled by guiding the caster wheels themselves, and I. will now describe the mechanism for so controlling the caster wheels.

The arms, 10 and 11, are connected near their rear ends with a. main frame arch, 59, which has the outerand inner arms, 60 and 61, respectively. The arch, 59, serves to connect the rear of the arms, 10 and 11, against displacement relative to each other and to support several ofthe operative parts of the plow, including the steering mechanism.

A bracket, 62, (see Fig. 2) is secured to the -side face of the arm, 61, and extends inwardly toward the arm, 60. "A second bracket, 63, is secured to the bracket, 62, and extends inwardly and somewhat downwardly, supporting at its end the steerin shaft, 64, which is provided with a han wheel, 65, situated convenientlydjacent the drivers seat on the tractor.

On the upper end of the spindle, 46, is mounted a worm wheel sector, 66'. The hub of the sector, 66, rests against a. collar, 67, .secured to the spindle, 46, and is provided with a clutch lug, 68, adapted to coact with a depression, 69, in the collar, 67. By this means the sector, 66, may be lockedto the spindle.

A worm wheel, 70, fixed to a short shaft, 71, journalled in a bracket, 72, integral with the bracket, 49, meshes with the sector, 66. A gimbal joint, 73, connects the shaft, 71, to the steering shaft, 64.

To the upper end of the spindle, 46, is secured an arm, 74, and an arm, 75, having a hub, 76, loosely received over the spindle, 46a` is secured at,77 to the sector, 66. It will thus be seen that movement of the sector, 66, will impart movement. rto the spindle, 46, through the medium of'a drag link, 78, connected at its ends to the arms, 7 4 and 75. The arm, 74, is secured to the spindle, 46, by means of a locking bolt, 7 8, which may be removed to allow removal of the arm. It will now be seen that by simply lifting the sector, 66, and the arm, -"74, together with the drag link, 78, from the respective spindles,-the caster wheels will be left free to turn uncontrolled.

Elevator mechanism,.-

The elevator has a pair of side frame channels, 7 9, which are connected by means of a false bottom, 80, and'lwhich serve to arms, 93 and 94,

support the sides, 81. yAt their lower ends the channels, 79, are provided with bearing blocks .(see Fig. 4) t. rou h which are extended a. shaft, 83, journaled at its ends in the rtion, 18, of the bar, 16, and in a bearing block, 84, secured in the frame member, 1.1. An idler shaft, 85, is similarly mounted in the upper ends of the channels, 79, and aligned sprockets, 86,` are secured to the shafts, 83 and 85. Upon the sprockets, 86, travel the elevator chains, 87, which carry the vanes, 88.

It will thus be seen that the shaft, serves both to pivotally support the lower end o-f the elevatorv and also to transmit lpower to the elevating mechanism, as will hereinafter be more fully described.

A small combustion engine, 89, is mounted on the plate, 48, in such a position that its crank s aft extends directly over the shaft, 83. Ahgned sprockets, 90 and 91, on the crank shaft of the engine, 89, and the shaft, 83, respectively are connected by a drive chain, 92, whic serves to transmit power to the'elevator without interfering with its adjustment.

lThe bracket, 62, has outwardly extending in which is journaled a drum, 95, provided with a hand wheel, 96.

A triangular shaped elevating bracket, 97, having the' horizontal arm, 98, slidingly engaged against the lower edges of the side members, 81, of the elevator, is slidingly mounted on the arm, 61, as illustrated in Fig. 10. The ends of the bracket, 97 extend into the channel of the arm, 61, as shown in Fig. 10, and fingers, 99, are secured thereto an encircle the arm, 61, to retain the bracket, 97, in place, and at the same time allow vertical shding thereof.

The fingers, 99, are provided with integral rings, 100, to which vare fastened the ends of`a cable, 101, extending from the upper linger upwardly over a pulley, 102, thence downwardly around -the drum, 95, to which it is secured, as at 103, thence ldownwardly around a pulley, 104, and upwardly to the lower finger, 99.

In order to prevent the outer end of the bracket, 97 moving rearwardly a brace rod, 105, is secured thereto, and extends forwardly to the outer arm, 23, of the forward arch, 22, to which it is pivotally .secured as at 106. The outer end of the rod, 105, is threaded and provided with a nut, 107, which allow adjustment of the rod relative to the bracket, 97. As the bracket, 97 moves vertically the rod, 105, will swing in a short arc.

In order to'lock the elevator in any of its .adjusted positions a pair of arms, 108, are

vater. Pins, 111, are inserted through registering openings in the yokes, 110, and in the sides, 81, and through any one of a number ol openings, 119., in the arms, 108.

By rotating the hand wheel, 96, it will be seen that the bracket, 97, will be drawn up` wardly or downwardly and the elevator corres ondingly raised or lowered. lVhen the desired position is reached the elevator may be locked in position by means of the arms, 108. r)Ehe inner yoke, 110, is located conveniently near the hand wheel, 96, so that one man may adjust the height of the elevator.

A delivery chute, 113, is supported from brackets, 114, adjustably mounted on the ends ot the elevator channel members, 79, and is positioned to receive the snow discharged from the end of the elevator and to convey it beyond the path of the plow.

The parts are so arranged that when the plow is used in the city streets the elevator will extend toward the center of the street when the plow follows the general line of trailic at the right. Thus the snow may be loaded onto wagons driven alongside of the plow. On a country road it is not necessary to cart the snow away and the plow is ot suilicient breadth to clear the road at one passage and deposit the snow to one side thereof.

In order to clear a path for the elevator a small extension is fixed to the end of the beam, 15, the blade, 115, thereof being supported on an angle bar, 116, which is secured to the v.trame in fixed relation.

It is necessary to elevate the snow a very slight distance by means oi a stationary blade before the elevating mechanism can operate upon it, and this is accomplished by means of a straight blade, 117, bolted at 118 to the forward corner of the lowered portion, 20, oi the frame extension, 15, and braced by means of a plate, 119, secured to the portion, 20, by means of a bracket, 120, and extending forwardly where it is riveted to the blade, 117, as at 121. The blade, 119, thence extends rearwardly to provide, as at 122, a protective shield for the vanes, S8, where they approach most closely the surface of the ground. The ends of the blade, 117, are curved forwardly behind the blades, 115 and 25, respectively, and the end behind the blade, 25, is spaced sutciently therefrom to allow swinging thereof. (See Fig. 7

Sonie changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified Jforms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

. I claim as my invention:

l. In a snow plow, an angularly disposed blade adapted to move snow with which it contacts toward one 0f its ends, an endless belt elevator disposed at that end adapted to receive the snow discharged t'roin the blade, said elevator being disposed parallel to the normal path ol" travel ot` the plow, and a frame supporting said elevator and blade, said frame including a U-shaped portion disposed at the side ol" the elevator having parailel arms connected at their forward ends by a forward connecting beam, said arms being adapted to receive a tractor therebetween and means for bitching a tractor to the rear ends ot said arms, the, removal of said hitching means from engagement with the arms allowing the tractor to be removed rearwardly from the trame.

2. ln a snow plow, an angularly disposed blade adapted to move snow with which it contacts toward one of its ends, an endless belt elevator disposed at that end adapted to receive the snow discharged from the blade, said elevator being disposed parallel to the normal path of travel of the plow` and a `trame supporting said elevator and blade, said frame including a U-shaped portion disposed at the side of the elevator having parallel arms connected at their forward ends by a forward connecting beam, sain arms being adapted to receive a tractor therebetween, means for hitching a tractoi to the rear ends of said arms, the removal of said hitehing means from engagement with the arms allowing the tractor to be removed rearwardly from the frame, and an arch connecting the rear portions of the arms and securing them in spaced relation.

3. ln a snow plow, an angular-ly disposed blade adapted to move snow with which it contacts toward one of its ends, an endless belt elevator disposed at that end adapted to receive the snow discharged from the blade, said elevator being disposed parallel to the normal path of travel of the plow, and a frame supporting said elevator and blade, said frame including a U-shaped portion disposed at the side of the elevator having parallel arms connected at their forwardiends by a forward connecting beam, said arms being adapted to receive a tractor therebetween, means for hitehing a traetor to the rear ends of said arms, the removal of said bitching means from engagement with the arms allowing the tractor to be removed rearwardly from the frame, said forward connecting beams being extended beyond the U-shaped portion of the frame to support the forward end of the elevator and having a depressed portion receiving the forward end of the elevator.

Ll. In a snow plow, an angularly disposed blade adapted to move snow with which it contacts toward one of its ends. an endless belt elevator disposed at that end adapted to receive the snow discharged from the blade, said elevator being disposed parallel to the normal path of travel of the plow, and a frame supporting said elevator and blade, said frame including a U-shaped portici disposed at the side of the elevator having parallel arms connected at their forward ends by a forward connecting beam, said arms being adapted .to receive a tractor therebetween, means for hitching a tractor to the rear ends of said arms, the removal of said hitching means from engagement with the arms allowing the tractor to be removed rearwardly from the frame, said forward connecting beam being extended beyond the U-shaped portion and provlded with a depressed portion forwardly of the elevator, and an auxiliary blade secured to said depressed portion and inclined downwardly and forwardly therefrom for raising the snow to the elevator.

5. In asnow plow, a frame having a forward beam and rearwardly extending spaced arms adapted to receive a tractor therebetween and to be hitched thereto, a plow blade having one end hinged near one end of said beam, and a slidingly adjustable frame unit attachable in various positions on the arm at the other end of said beam, to support the free end of the blade in any of several adjusted positions.

6. In a snow plow, a frame having spaced arms adapted to receive a tractor therebetween, an arch connecting the rear ends of the arms, an angularly disposed blade carried by the frame, an elevator carried by the frame having its receiving end disposed adjacent the discharge end of said blade, and a vertically adjustable bracket carried by the arch and supporting the rear end of the elevator.

7. In a snow plow, in combination with a tractor having a draw bar, a plow frame having a pair of spaced arms adapted to receive said tractor, a plow blade carried by the frame, a transversely extending hitching bar supported from said draw bar, the rear ends of the arms being slotted to receive the ends of said hitching bar, and means to attach said hitching bar to said arms.

8. In a snow plow, a frame, a plow blade supported on said frame, an elevator having a lower sprocket shaft serving to hingedly mount said elevator at its receiving end in 4 the frame, elevating mechanism, said shaft serving also to transmit power to said elevating mechanism, and an independent power unit supported on the frame and having a driving connection with said shaft, the receiving end of the elevator being positioned adjacent the discharge end of the blade. Y

9. In a snow plow, a frame, a plow b'lade carried by said frame, means for supporting the front portion of a tractor on said frame, l5

and means `for hitching the tractor at its rear end to the frame, caster wheels supporting the forward portion of the frame, vsteering mechanism operativel connected with one of the caster wheels an extending to p0- sition adjacent the rear portion of the frame, and a drag link connecting the caster wheels to transmit steering movement therebetween.

l0. In a snow plow, a frame, a'plow blade carried by said frame, means for hitching a tractor to said frame, a pair of caster wheels supporting `the forward portion of the frame, steering mechanism, and means for readily connecting and disconnecting said steering mechanism to the caster wheels, including a drag link connecting the caster wheels to steer them in unison and adapted to be removed from engagement therewith.

11. Ina snow plow, a frame, an angularly disposed plow b ade hinged at its rear end to the frame,jadjustable means for connecting the forward end to the frame, an elevator carried by the frame, aligned with the normal direction of travel of the plow, and having its receiving end disposed adjacent the rear end of the blade, and an auxiliary inclined blade carried by the frame just forwardly of the receiving end of the elevator, said auxiliary blade extending behind and being slightly spaced from the plow blade to allow hinging movement thereof. 12. In a snow plow, a frame, an an ularly disposed blade carried thereby, an e evator having a receiving end hin ed to the frame adjacent the rear end of the lade, means for raising the free end of the elevator, an upright carried by the forward portion of the frame, and means secured to said upright and adjustably attachable to the elevator near its free end, to secure the elevator in any of its raised positions.

13. In a snow plow, a frame, a blade carried by said frame at its forward end, means for hitching the rear end to a tractor, caster wheels supporting the forward portion of the frame, and means for adjusting the height of the caster wheels relative to the frame.

14. In a snow plow, a frame, disposed blade carried by the tion of the frame,

an angularly forward ora rearwardly exten ing elevator having its receiving end positioned adjacent the rear end of the blade, caster wheels disposed forwardly of the center of gravity 1pf the plow and adapted to support a majority of the weight thereof, and means for hitching the rear end of the frame to a tractor to support the same and provide tractive power for the plow.

Signed at Sioux City, in the county of Woodbury and State of Iowa, this 9th day of April, 1925.

LEO P. MARX. 

